796.5/3–2751: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Philippines (Cowen) to the Secretary of State
2913. For Melby. I flew to Baguio this morning accompanied by. General Hobbs, JUSMAG, and Herbert May, Treasury Attaché planning to discuss contemplated aid program and Phil budgetary position with Quirino after Hobbs had made his report on his recent trip to Washington. Quirino opened conversation by asking if Hobbs had brought him good news. Hobbs stated that as result his efforts Dept Defense had arranged to expedite deliveries wherever possible and [Page 1525] that pursuant to Quirino’s request made day prior his departure for Washington he had advised Defense, State, Treasury of Quirino’s desire for 50,000,000 budgetary assistance and that while no decision had been reached prior his departure he personally expected that there wld be some such aid which if given wld be channeled through JUSMAG if and when required. Hobbs also said Washington concerned over continuation Castaneda and Ramos in present positions and advised Pres of reports emanating from Washington that Castaneda is representing that on his return he wld either continue as Chief of Staff or in post Secy Defense. Hobbs also pointed out that Castaneda family still living in residence Chief of Staff of Camp Murphy and that General Ramos and family are still occupying residence of chief of constabulary and that all these factors contribute to unrest and uneasiness on part officers Phil Armed Forces. Quirino asked if Washington preferred to believe these rumors as against his previous assurances to us of retirement Castaneda on Castaneda’s return to Manila and on retirement Ramos when possible. Also asked if Secy Marshall had confidence in him Hobbs studiously replied that Secy Marshall wanted to have confidence in him and hoped for manifestations here which wld justify such confidence. Hobbs also spoke of Washington’s concern as well as our own concern over lack of aggressive law enforcement particularly in military cases. Quirino again stated we knew he had only sent Castaneda to Washington as means easing him out and then few moments later in emotional outburst said that if US did not choose to help Phils the Phils wld have to get along without US aid and that he wld immediately telegraph instructions to Romulo, Castaneda and other members mil mission to return Manila at once inasmuch as they had failed in their mission. Hobbs immed pointed out that as he had heretofore repeatedly informed Quirino, FY 1951 and FY 1952 aid programs long since scheduled1 and that inasmuch as mil mission actually had no mission to fulfill it cld not properly be charged that they had failed in such mission and also called Quirino’s attention to statement of but few moments previous that Castaneda had been sent only as means egress.
I had suggested that Romulo had been very helpful since return Washington mid-Jan in UN matters and was also apparently making an impressive presentation Phil position re reparations. Quirino petulantly replied that as to UN matters Romulo had been of help to US not to Phils and that as to reparations he had not been made to make any representations of the kind he had been making and that he particularly had not been authorized to write and deliver recent letter to Amb Dulles on such reparations.
[Page 1526]Magsaysay was present during all of this. Today’s outburst was comparable with that of day prior my return Washington just year ago during negotiations for economic mission at conclusion of which he told me to “bring back my happiness or don’t come back at all,” meaning by phrase “his happiness” a joint mission. It was obvious at this point that it wld be useless to attempt to discuss anything with him which had to do with any arithmetic beyond the 50,000,000 budgetary aid which seems to be his sole concern so I found pretext to ask Hobbs, May and Magsaysay to excuse themselves after which I was able calm him down a bit. His parting word was that if I wld do my part, which I interpreted as meaning getting him the 50,000,000 budgetary aid, he wld do his part, which I took to mean that he wld retire Castaneda upon his return. He has still made no commitment as to Ramos except to indicate that Magsaysay cld, if he so desired, arrange to have Ramos family moved out of the constabulary chief of staff residence.
All of foregoing adds up to just one thing in my opinion and that is that we must control to the maximum degree every centavo of aid of any character which we send into this country during Quirino incumbency and if any reforms are to be effected it will largely come through competent technical advisers scattered profusely through all strategic Phil Govt depts and agencies. Also added to the fact that in view of utter hopelessness of expecting any continuity of constructive performance from Quirino we must exert every effort through every medium to continue to attract support and maintain affection of Phil people in gen.
Hobbs handled himself magnificently and with great patience and restraint throughout and I thought particularly at point when Hobbs expressed hope this morning’s talk wld be treated in complete confidence and particularly with respect newspapers and Quirino replied that he wld be ashamed to report it, meaning of course, what he regarded as entirely unsympathetic attitude of US toward him and toward Phils.
- That is, the military aid programs for those years.↩